Cruise Alaska

A cruise through three worlds. Discover three ecosystems during a single itinerary, from the polar landscapes of the Russian Far East to the primary forests and sinuous fjords of the Inside Passage, via the volcanic islands of the Bering Sea. During your trip, discover the unique wildlife at some of the sites that have marked the history of Alaska.

Seward As the only Alaskan town to be located on the East coast of the Kenai Peninsula, Seward is a small picturesque city renowned for its exceptional natural beauty. Also known as the gateway to the magical Kenai Fjords National Park.

Remote territory still unknown and wild, landscape from wide spaces to gigantic glaciers, steep mountains, infinite tundra and glittering lacs ; Alaska invites you to follow the steps of trappers and gold miners.-During your trip, discover the unique wildlife at some of the sites that have marked the history of Alaska.

* Reduction does not apply to the first cruise and relates to the port/port fare excluding port taxes, non available for Ocean Voyages and subject to availability. The offer is only available on selected cruises. Please, contact us.

Staterooms & Suites

LE SOLEAL

Designed in 2013 and loyal to the PONANT spirit, Le Soléal like her sisterships embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing which is Ponant’s signature. The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and her intimate size (only 132 staterooms and suites)make this a rare and innovative yacht on the cruise market.

Interior Design

With her fluid lines and a modern colour scheme combining natural wood with shades of grey and white, Le Soléal presents references to a nautical theme.

Port of call & excursions

Nome

Located along the Bering Strait at the westernmost point of Alaska, Nome offers the rustic charm of a former gold-mining town, set in the middle of magnificent wilderness. As you weave in and out of the brightly coloured houses, you will discover the pioneering legacy that still marks local traditions. Fishing, reindeer rearing, sledge-racing ﾖ people here live from their manual labour. The surrounding plains provide stunning vantage points for observing Arctic fauna.

12 August 2016 – Crossing The Date Line Change

Arrival 12/08/2016 . Departure 12/08/2016 .

Your itinerary enables you to cross the International Date Line. This imaginary line across the Earth’s surface approximately follows the 180th meridian in the Pacific Ocean. Because of the roundness of the Earth and the necessity of having reference time meridians, we have to change dates when we cross this line. So if your ship is travelling west, you will need to add a day to the expected date; conversely, if travelling east, you will take away a day. This paradox, already noted by Magellan’s crews during his circumnavigation, serves as dramatic motivation in several novels, including Jules Verne’s famous Around the World in Eighty Days.

13 August 2016 – Provideniya

Arrival 13/08/2016 . Departure 13/08/2016 .

Across the Bering Strait from Alaska, which it almost touches and can be glimpsed when the weather is fine, the town of Provideniya seems to keep a watchful eye over ships heading for the East Siberian Sea. Nestled against mountains with peaks of up to 2,000 m, Provideniya is the gateway to the Chukotka Peninsula, a polar region as yet unknown to the general public, with striking landscapes and a primitive beauty like no other.

13 August 2016 – Crossing The Date Line Change

Arrival 13/08/2016 . Departure 13/08/2016 .

Your itinerary enables you to cross the International Date Line. This imaginary line across the Earth’s surface approximately follows the 180th meridian in the Pacific Ocean. Because of the roundness of the Earth and the necessity of having reference time meridians, we have to change dates when we cross this line. So if your ship is travelling west, you will need to add a day to the expected date; conversely, if travelling east, you will take away a day. This paradox, already noted by Magellan’s crews during his circumnavigation, serves as dramatic motivation in several novels, including Jules Verne’s famous Around the World in Eighty Days.

13 August 2016 – Savoonga

Arrival 13/08/2016 . Departure 13/08/2016 .

During one of your Zodiac® outings, we invite you to discover the village of Savoonga. Located on St. Lawrence Island, at the southern entrance of the Bering Strait, it provides a great glimpse into the lifestyle and traditions of the Yupik people. You will probably be greeted by a number of smiling villagers, happy to spend a few hours with you. Savoonga’s 800 inhabitants mainly subsist on walrus and bowhead whale hunting. Traditional singing and dancing are also part of daily life for the villagers, who are masters at the art of walrus tusk sculpture.

14 August 2016 – At sea

Arrival 14/08/2016 . Departure 14/08/2016 .

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observer marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

15 August 2016 – St George Island (Pribilofs)

Arrival 15/08/2016 . Departure 15/08/2016 .

Located in the middle of the Bering sea,Saint-George Island is the second biggest island of the Pribilof archipelago. A special atmosphere emanates from this landscape of volcanic craters and tundra: wild lands surrounded by a sumptuous coastline of majestic cliffs. You may very well spot some migratory birds that come and settle here all year round, making this a perfect place for observing many different species. Fur seals, also called Pribilof seals, have made this haven of peace their home with its rich biodiversity.

16 August 2016 – Dutch Harbour

Arrival 16/08/2016 . Departure 16/08/2016 .

During your cruise, discover an exceptional site: Unalaska Island and its port, Dutch Harbor. Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea, on the Aleutian Islands, Dutch Harbor is the only deep water port in the archipelago. As for the island itself, it offers you unique landscapes: volcanic summits swept by the wind and surrounded by the sea, lush green valleys, sometimes covered with bright summer flowers, sometimes with deep winter snow… Unalaska is not only an island with astonishing nature and very varied wildlife, it is also rich in history, where ancient indigenous cultures and remains from World War II can be seen and their tales be told.

16 August 2016 – Akutan

Arrival 16/08/2016 . Departure 16/08/2016 .

16 August 2016 – Sarana Bay

Arrival 16/08/2016 . Departure 16/08/2016 .

17 August 2016 – Otter Cove

Arrival 17/08/2016 . Departure 17/08/2016 .

17 August 2016 – Ittikan Island

Arrival 17/08/2016 . Departure 17/08/2016 .

18 August 2016 – Chankliut Island

Arrival 18/08/2016 . Departure 18/08/2016 .

Off the Alaska Peninsula hides a small gem: Chankliut. From mountainous terrain to flowery moors and valleys covered in sea lyme-grass, this island, which is part of the Aleutian archipelago, offers landscapes with a unique charm. During your walk around a lake, you will cross a sumptuous meadow where beautiful aconite and willowherb vie for attention. The more courageous will venture onward to the neighbouring valley and its ancient calderas to admire the splendour of the scenery. This totally uninhabited island bears no trace of any past settlement. Small, curious heads will catch your attention, however: crested puffins and horned puffins bask on the water near spotted seals…

18 August 2016 – Castle Cap - Navigation

Arrival 18/08/2016 . Departure 18/08/2016 .

19 August 2016 – Katmai

Arrival 19/08/2016 . Departure 19/08/2016 .

To the south-west of Alaska, the peninsula breaks away from mainland and offers one of America’s most spectacular national parks: the Katmai National Park and Preserve, sheltering 14 active volcanoes including the famous Novarupta, whose eruption in 1912 forever altered the face of the landscape. A caldera and its diaphanous lake, a dome of lava and the lunar vision of the valley of Ten Thousand Smokes are just some of the natural treasures you will behold. Don’t forget Geographic Bay Harbor, an excellent lookout point for kodiaks, majestic Alaskan brown bears that can grow up to 3 metres high and weigh half a ton. Nature of titanic proportions abounds.

19 August 2016 – Kukak Bay

Arrival 19/08/2016 . Departure 19/08/2016 .

20 August 2016 – Kodiak Island

Arrival 20/08/2016 . Departure 20/08/2016 .

21 August 2016 – Katmai

Arrival 21/08/2016 . Departure 21/08/2016 .

To the south-west of Alaska, the peninsula breaks away from mainland and offers one of America’s most spectacular national parks: the Katmai National Park and Preserve, sheltering 14 active volcanoes including the famous Novarupta, whose eruption in 1912 forever altered the face of the landscape. A caldera and its diaphanous lake, a dome of lava and the lunar vision of the valley of Ten Thousand Smokes are just some of the natural treasures you will behold. Don’t forget Geographic Bay Harbor, an excellent lookout point for kodiaks, majestic Alaskan brown bears that can grow up to 3 metres high and weigh half a ton. Nature of titanic proportions abounds.

21 August 2016 – Holgate Glacier

Arrival 21/08/2016 . Departure 21/08/2016 .

Exceptional scenery surrounds you. You are in Aialik Bay, in the heart of a gigantic fjord located in Kenai Fjords National Park. Your ship is heading towards the vertiginous slopes of Holgate Glacier, which is still very active. Regularly, blocks of ice break free from its snout and crash into the water. This phenomenon, called calving, is magnificent to witness. During your Zodiac® outing, you will get closer to this ever-fascinating world of ice. In this mineral setting, sea otters and spotted seals will observe you as they bask in the golden rays of sunshine, while gulls and seagulls feast on fish trapped by the ebbing tide.

21 August 2016 – Seward (Anchorage)

Arrival 21/08/2016 . Departure 21/08/2016 .

Seward

Disembarkation 22/08/2016 at 07H00 .

Seward is located on the Kenai peninsula, south of Anchorage. This bustling port, built for the fishing and shipbuilding industries, will show you just how vibrant it is, with its shops and galleries. The entrance gate for the sublime Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward nestles in the heart of very beautiful scenery, between glaciers, mountains and very rich marine life (whales, sea otters, orcas, seals…).

Formalities

The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.

Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.

Russia: A copy of your passport (photo page) must be sent to PONANT at the very latest 70 days prior to your cruise, in order for PONANT to arrange for the "letter of invitation" necessary to obtain the entry permit required for Provideniya in Russia.Please note : in case PONANT does not receive a copy of your passport by the deadline, the immigration procedures specific to the areas visited won’t be obtained for your embarkation.

Theme

EXPEDITION

Exploring the world’s extreme regions while enjoying luxury comfort and service: that is the unique Expedition Cruise concept brought to you by Ponant, the world’s leading polar cruise specialist.

Exceptional itineraries

Ponant Expedition cruises take you off the beaten path, for true adventures that are both authentic and refined. We have designed a large number of itineraries just for you, to give you access to exceptional lands all around the globe. From the Arctic to the Antarctic via Alaska, South America or Oceania, each luxury Expedition is the promise of a different and unique cruise experience.

A luxury expedition voyage

No matter which destination you choose, you will always find the same exceptional standards of comfort, service and elegance that have forged Ponant’s reputation. Our sisterships have earned Class Comfort 1 certification and can sail in the world’s most extreme regions, whilst offering an intimate and refined luxury atmosphere and environment. A certain idea of luxury, a way of experiencing cruising... differently.

Discovering the wonders of the world

The hikes, excursions and Zodiac outings organised during your Expedition cruise provide ample opportunity for you to discover the hidden treasures of these regions. With guidance from our experienced naturalists, lecturers and guides, you will be able to approach a rich and unfamiliar wildlife and flora and meet little-known tribes and ethnic groups. On board and on land, our specialists will provide a cultural, historical or geological dimension, and will take great pleasure in answering all of your questions.

Flight Seattle/Nome + visit + transfers + flight Anchorage/Seattle

(Flight details and time to be confirmed 2 months prior to the date of services)

August 11, 2016 Nome

Meet and greet in Nome airport by our local representative off the charter flight selected by PONANT.

Transfer to the pier of Nome with tour “en route”.

You will depart by local school bus to visit Nome; the town is located in Western Alaska. For centuries, the Bering Strait region has been home to the Eskimo people and their territories for hunting; it is still home today to three culturally distinct groups. During this tour, you will explore the fascinating history of the Nome Gold Rush from the discovery of gold by the “Three Lucky Swedes”: Jafet Lindberg, Erik Lindblom and John Brynteson on Anvil Creek. In 1899, news of the discovery of gold in the sandy beaches of the coastline around Nome reached the outside world. Thousands of gold miners and merchants poured into Nome aboard steamships from the ports of San Francisco and Seattle. In 1900, the population was multiplied by four, reaching as high as 40,000 inhabitants. Nowadays Nome is rather a large village in size.

Due to fires as well as violent storms, much of Nome’s gold rush architecture has been destroyed; therefore, you will see very few examples of the building era in town. In 1925, a diphtheria epidemic raged among Alaska Natives in the Nome area. Snow and wide-blizzard conditions prevented delivery of a life-saving serum by airplane and by boat. A relay of dog sled teams was organized to deliver the serum. Nowadays, the snow scooters have replaced the dog sleds to transport men and materials through the Arctic countries, however sled drivers still meet during sled dogs races. In 1908, the All Alaska Sweeptakes was the first official long distance sled dog race. One of the most famous sled dog races since 1973 is Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race which ends in Nome and commemorates the 1925 serum run. It is a 1,049-mile race through the state of Alaska. A monument called “End of Iditarod race” has been built and placed in town to commemorate this race. You will then continue your visit, exploring the contemporary history of Nome. During World War II, Nome was the last stop on the ferry system for planes flying from the United States to the U.S.S.R. for the Lend-Lease program. Troops were stationed there and you will see signs of this military presence including a Quonset hut

After the visit, you will be transferred to your ship for embarkation.

Cruise on board your ship

August 22nd, 2016 Seward - Anchorage / Seattle

Disembarkation and group transfer to the airport of Anchorage (duration: approximatively 2 hours – 2hours ½)

Anchorage /Seattle on chartered or on regular flight.

(Flight details and time to be confirmed at the moment you receive your travel documentation)

Tour and Transfers as indicated above (use of local school buses in Nome)

Local English speaking assistance.

Your program does not include:

Tips for the driver and local assistance staff

Personal expenses and other services not mentioned in the program

Note :

In Seattle, summer temperatures average around 24°C / 75°F.

Nome tourist infrastructures are very limited and basic (such as the school busses)

The tour offers the best Nome has to provide as an off the beaten track destination and we trust you will be fully understanding of these special conditions. Tour will run in different order so as to avoid crowds on sites.

Nome airport capacity is extremely limited and delays have to be expected upon arrival or departure (there is no such equipment as screening machines and search could take up some time from local airport staff and authorities)

Please note that school buses used in Nome represent the available public means of transportation – Those coaches are basic and storage is limited, therefore we strongly recommend to keep your carry on to a minimum and the use of a bag pack.

The local currency is the U.S dollar. You can use your credit card to withdraw US$ from the cash machines.

Nome has a subarctic climate with short, cool summers. We advise you to dress in layers and to be prepared for all types of weather. Weather changes quickly in Alaska.

Anchorage has a continental climate with short and dry summers. In August, temperatures drop as the days get shorter. Day time temperatures vary between 18°C / 64°C and 9°C /48°C. Showers are to be expected. We recommend you dress in layers.

We recommend that you wear a waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes.

This program is subject to change. Depending on final flight times, it might be revised.

Guest(s) Lecturer(s)

Laurence de la Ferriere

Laurence de la Ferrière was born in Casablanca. She discovered mountaineering in her twenties and gave up studying medicine and playing the flute, instead setting off to conquer the highest peaks in the world, first in the Alps then the Himalayas.

On 23 November 1999, Laurence de la Ferrière left the South Pole. Her only means of transport was a pair of skies and some sails; her only contact with civilisation was a satellite telephone and an Argos beacon. Attached to her waist, a 140 kilo sledge contained what she needed to sustain her in total autonomy. Ahead of her lay an endless white expanse of land where no animal or plant life is possible, and nearly 3,000 km to cover, some 1,664 km of which that had never previously been explored, in temperatures that could reach lows of minus 50°C.

Nobody had ever dared to imagine a feat like this. On 6 February 2000, she reached the Dumont d’Urville station on the edge of the ocean.

Photo credit: Franck Paubel

Possibility of withdrawal in case of force majeure.

Important information

Expeditions programs include activities such as Zodiac® outings (often with "wet landing"), moderate walks to more active hikes. All this accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides. Calls, landings & zodiac® cruises will depend on weather conditions, position of ice (during polar cruises) and winds and the state of the sea. These can force a change of plans at any time.

Taking into consideration the unusual and exceptional character of expedition itineraries, the calls shown are an indication only. The final route will be confirmed by the Captain and Expedition Leader, who will take into account the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. Their decision will be subject to that of local authorities and the expert pilots present on board during the navigation in polar and /or isolated zones.

Travelling to polar/isolated regions is an exhilarating experience. The raw beauty and untouched wilderness offer an unusual chance to experience a place where there is little evidence of human presence. Inevitably, there are some consequences that come with such remoteness: please remember that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is highly expensive. Without the necessary medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid for with your personal funds. We urge you to subscribe a full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully and be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive.

Half calf rubber boots with non-slip soles, which will allow you to land in 20 cm of cold water, keeping your feet dry for walks and visits on steep paths. You can also bring water-resistant hiking boots. A boots rental will be offered onboard (for adults only) on Expedition cruises where the stamp “Boots offered” appears

Comfortable pants: classic Winter pants, warm cotton tracksuit

Water-resistant windbreaker over pants - COMPULSORY

Winter pants with water-resistant over pants is the ideal combination: water-resistance and comfort suitability of pants are essential